Do You Need An Image Consultant?

finding an image consultant

A Google search for "image consultant" will yield scores of hits, but you're better off looking at directory listings in your area. You can find accredited consultants listed by country and state at the Association of Image Consultants International website (www.aici.org).

Many companies hire or have hired consultants for group seminars, so ask your HR department or your boss about it. Otherwise, just ask around. Ask top people you're comfortable with. If you hear the same name mentioned more than once, give that person a call.

choosing an image consultant

Consultants can be pretty pricey. You want to make sure you're getting your money's worth. It's wise to ask a consultant the following:

for references and past clients (you should call them up and get their opinions)

how they work, what topics they address

if they are certified image consultants

how much time the service requires

their hourly fee and estimates in writing (good in case they flake on you midway)

if they provide a video of the consultation (so you can review it later)

clean yourself up

Consider this: How full is the self-help section of your local bookstore? How many times have you seen the same tips in men's magazines and on TV shows? What consultants teach is nothing new. A search through AskMen.com or a fashion-savvy girlfriend will summarize most of a consultant's advice.

However, all that advice is general, dispensed in one-size-fits-all chunks. A consultant tailors his advice to your needs specifically, looking at your body type and addressing your personal shortcomings.

They also give you the chance to step out of your style boundary, which you may otherwise think is perfectly okay.

"Being objective about oneself is very hard to do," says Desgagn. "We get caught up in our preferences, our likes and dislikes. A consultant lets you have a real exchange of information face-to-face."

So take it from the people who have made it big. A consultant can be worth every penny if you want success in certain professions, or if you're dying for a promotion, for power, or for respect